Tuesday, October 26th 2010 – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada: Guadeloupe finished their qualification campaign holding onto their 100% record and in the process ensuring that they enter the Digicel Cup Finals in Martinique having bested last Digicel Cup tournament’s runners up in a comprehensive fashion and in front of Grenada’s home fans.

The French could not have gotten off to a better start and as they did against St Kitts, scored in the first few minutes of play.
Johnny Tacita, eager to prove his worth after failing to make a regular first team berth in the opening two games, showed coach Salnot just what he could do when he powerfully headed home an inch perfect cross from Hanany on the right with only 3 minutes on the clock.

With Grenada wanting to repay the faith of the unusually large home crowd for a Tuesday afternoon kick off, home favourtie Ricky Charles was almost on the end of a fine through ball from Rennie on 23 minutes, but for some well timed defending from Gendrey.

It was Gendrey again that Guadeloupe had to thank for keeping the spice boys at bay and going into the half time break goal less, after his last minute clearance from another menacing Delroy Facey run.

The action flew from end to end as the home side, buoyed on by a very vocal home crowd, wanted to ensure that they gained parity sooner rather than later. With Rennie cutting out Guadeloupe attacks down the right, he ventured forward more and more as the minutes wore on and after he failed to trouble Bus too much with his shot after 54 minutes he did set up Cuffie who would surely have equalized but for the timely intervention of man of the match Gendrey.

As if his stoic efforts at the back were not enough of a thorn for Grenada, Gendrey broke all hearts around the stadium after he calmly slotted home after receiving an inch perfect pass from Clavier on 69 minutes to leave Grenada with a mountain to climb.

With the Spice boys now needing to throw caution to the wind if they were to salvage anything from this tie, they pushed forward in search of restoring some home pride and give themselves a chance of still winning the Group they hosted.

Any doubt of the result was wiped out though 10 minutes later when Tacita picked up his second of the night and Guadeloupe’s third after he ran through the centre of the home defence unopposed and with a clinical finish made sure the home fans sought the exit signs earlier than the final whistle.

Three nil it ended and with Grenada in second place and assured of their qualification, the defeat was not as wounding as could have been the case, while Guadeloupe showed the rest of the Caribbean why they have qualified for the last 2 Gold Cup tournaments consecutively, in the Digicel Cup tournament.

Next stop for these sides, Martinique on November 26 next for the 2010 Digicel Cup Finals.

After nine years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 11 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti and Papua New Guinea which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

In 2004, Digicel developed Digicel Rising Stars – an annual talent show to support aspiring young music artists in the Caribbean. The show has spanned the Eastern Caribbean, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago ranking as one of the top-rated shows.